t_ruth

Good luck to you Snoopy! I study something similar and you definitely missed some good schools that would have profs w/your interests...

Chicklet. You had asked which UC I was at...I didn't want to post on the board as I want to maintain some semblance of anonymity - tried to PM you, but it says you can't receive PMs.

My UC guarantees all admitted students funding for two or three years (usually three), but I think the plan is to fully fund for four or five years (although there are no guarantees for this). The funding opportunities are there, and once you proceed to candidacy, there is also a lot of outside funding available. It isn't as good as the schools who offer five years solid funding, but I feel pretty comfortable. The funding comes as either a fellowship, TA or GSR (Graduate Student Researcher). All cover tuition and then a stipend (1700-1900 a month where I am). Summer funding is also available.

ah, you missed my UC, sniff

Where did you apply chicklet (or did I miss that)?

Congrats all! Now it's time to start a decisions thread . If you want any advice from a current student, I'm around (as are a few others)...

What!?! how did I miss another Ed PhD seeker w/a JD. Angelica, PM me (I graduated law school in 2003). I could definitely give you some very tailored insights

that sounds awesome! so well thought out I don't think the lack of teaching credential will matter at all.

I started to hear at a pretty consistent pace (almost one a week) from the last week of January on. Good luck!

check your PM box

interesting. The LOR section is not really relevant to those of us who had been out of school for a number of years, especially as stay-at-home moms...I had to be a little more creative when it came to rounding out my letters, and I don't think it hurt me

Some schools had recruitment weekends and others did not. Also, there was a conflict b/w two recruitment weekends, but they were accommodating and made a separate visit itinerary just for me (I've heard from others this is common). The school I'm at put on an amazing recruitment weekend and they made a big impression on both me and my husband because of this. All the schools to which I applied had good faculty (matching my interests), good reputations and programs, but it ultimately came down to funding. It was between two schools in the end and I ended up at the one that offered slightly less money. The main deciding factor between these two schools was the job market for my husband - one school was just not in a big enough metro region for his career needs. I'm pretty happy with my choice though (so far)! As for getting accepted...for me, it seemed to be about contact w/professors and research match. I had good numbers and a fairly solid background, and except for one (which was actually my safety school, lol), I was only rejected by schools at which I had a tenuous research match - and I have other theories about that one too, which I'd be happy to explain in a PM I wasn't looking at most of the schools on your list though...because of some health/well-being concerns for my family, I only looked in warm climates.

yeah, geesh, I was thinking the same thing! I can say that if you get into a lot of programs you would consider, you'll need to have set aside some time for traveling...you may want to start working on that now, especially if it looks like work will keep you busy. Last year, I ended up visiting three schools only, even though I was going to visit five - I just fell in love w/the first one I visited.

My particular path has led me to my choice of PhD, so I'm not sure what I would ideally study. I do know that if I had to do it again, I would leave myself with more options to perhaps choose a different path. I would have stayed at my (rigorous) high school, stayed in college for all four years and would have done some social science degree with an teaching certificate and a premed track (with high sciences and maths) so then I could go on to graduate school in just about anything. Maybe I would even take five years in undergrad to really explore...

tell us about you emgem. Area of focus? Particular schools you are looking at? What is your background?

Step up and introduce yourself! I'm in my first year now and I remember how great it was last year to at least know some other education people (as it seems there are few of us on these forums)...

ooh, all of yours sound so interesting! I'm studying educational psychology and my main interest is motivation - particularly what drives people to 'achieve' Why? Because this question has been nagging me my entire life. It just won't shut up.

that's interesting...I guess it is really dependent on the particular University and department culture. In mine, the professors repeatedly ask you to refer to them by first name. There are some students who still don't, but as an older student with a doctoral degree from another field, it doesn't bother me to call them by first names at all.

I have a pretty much one-of-a-kind first name...no, really, and it still didn't matter.

Yep! I had wondered that exact thing - lame!

bump for a general PSA as those of you who are waiting may be dealing w/similar issues.

I have two children. One is four and the other is under 2. My husband, kids and I all moved across the country (from one coast to the other!), which was a great leap of faith, especially considering the economy...my husband is amazing. We had some temporary help from family, but none that lives nearby on a permanent basis, so we are about to start the kids in full-time preschool/daycare. My husband found a job in two months, which is further testament to how amazing he is, but the cost of living here is very high (and childcare costs are high as well). As for the schedule, things are a lot more difficult than I expected! I've always been the kind who didn't have to try too hard for top grades, but between my classes, work (as a grad research asst), my own research, and a little bit of time to work out (which I view as very important), I'm out of the house for eight+ hours a day on the weekdays and then work at home most of Sunday. Luckily, my husband works very close to home and we were able to arrange our schedules to where the kids will be in daycare almost the same number of waking hours that one or both of us spends with them (during the week), so when considering the weekend, we definitely spend more time with them then childcare providers. When I was applying for schools, I decided I was tired of shoveling snow and bundling up small children, so only looked at warm places. The closest was a three hour flight away and the furthest was...well, where we ended up. I'm so happy we made the decision to come out here! It's a little difficult fitting in in what is sometimes a plastic land and a bit lonely, especially now during winter break - only knowing other grad students who mostly go 'home' for the holidays, but the quality of life is fabulous and I adore my program. I'm determined to do great work because we've uprooted our lives, and also because I'm so happy I'm no longer a stay-at-home mom, lol. I love my kids, but I think a happy mommy will be great for all of us in the long run Good luck with your adventure! Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions...I think there is also an old thread from last year if you search.

You'll find a PhD program *very* different from law school in many ways. Today I was realizing that the work I did for a law school prof as a research assistant that earned me an acknowledgment in the paper would have earned me an author credit in my current program. Sucks

It's very expensive and you should be able to get some actual numbers online on a site like realtor.com, but if you have the money, now is definitely the time to buy! The only thing about buying is that owning a home requires a substantial investment of time - there is always something needing improvement or to be fixed...

That's very specific. Is there anything broader you are interested in? Can you relate your interests to specific faculty at schools? I can't stress enough how important I've heard this is - not only for your chances of getting in, but for your happiness with the program you ultimately choose (I'm seeing the latter play out now among my cohort).